Name: Das russische Wunder I
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1963-05-07
Duration: 1 h 55 min
Rating: 7.8
Cast: Ivan Burakov, Anton Denikin, Maurice Janin

Made with time and money and vision in the DDR, half a century ago, this unashamedly communistic documentary is well worth seeing despite your political stance.

This first (and superior) part of the epic film tells the story of Russia's transformation from an empire ruled by the czar into a socialist mega nation. The movie's power comes from a level-headed and empathetic depiction of the pre-revolution conditions in Russia. Technologically Russia was a hundred years behind the western countries, with 65 million people living - in practical terms - in slavery.

The said conditions are rarely talked about, but they explain the desperate need for a change in the gigantic nation. It is a startling notion that even with the atrocities committed by The Party, Russians still had it better than before.

The Thorndikes use archival material to great effect in this well directed, still timely and intelligent film.

German cinema is famous for its historical depth, expressionist aesthetics, and social-political engagement. It has moved from Expressionism to political reckoning, from New German Cinema's raw realism to contemporary genre experiments. Its legacy lies in both technical innovation and deep explorations of history, morality, and philosophy.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Das russische Wunder I

Photos2

Top Cast10

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed